CINCINNATI – When asked what new defensive coordinator Teryl Austin wants his unit’s identity to be in 2018, Bengals linebackers Jordan Evans and Hardy Nickerson responded in unison.

“Turnovers.”

It was a noticeably quiet and empty Bengals locker room on Wednesday afternoon – a few position groups finished a little early and slipped out before media availability – but Evans and Nickerson were happy to hang around and talk Austin.

“I would say he’s a players coach,” Evans said. “He relates to us really well and makes it easier to want to work for him and work with him.”

Despite returning the same head coach and quarterback combination from last season’s disappointing 7-9 campaign, things are not exactly status quo for the Bengals heading into 2018. Bill Lazor is officially in place as the offensive coordinator after taking over in Week 3 of last season and Austin is taking over on the other side of the ball. Both coaches...